Estimated Life Expectancies

Estimated Life Expectancy Chart

The following chart details the predicted life expectancy of household materials and components.

Interior and exterior paints can last for 15 years or longer, however homeowners often paint more frequently. Surface preparation is likely the most important determiner of paint life expectancy.

ADHESIVES, CAULK AND PAINTS

YEAR

Caulking

5-10

Paint

7

Roofing Adhesives

15+

Appliance life expectancy depends to a great extent on the use it receives. Furthermore, consumers often replace appliances long before they become worn out due to changes in styling, technology and consumer preferences. Of a home’s major appliances, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy.

APPLIANCES

YEARS

Air-Conditioners

8-15

Boilers

20-35

Compactors

6

Dehumidifiers

8

Dishwashers

9

Disposers, Food waste

12

Dryers

13

Exhaust Fans

10

Freezers

10-20

Furnaces

15-25

Gas Ovens

10-18

Heat Pumps

16

Humidifiers

8

Microwave Ovens

9

Range/Oven Hoods

14

Electric Ranges

13-15

Gas Ranges

15-17

Refrigerators

9-13

Washing Machine

5 -15

Water Heaters

10-11

BATHROOM

YEARS

Cast Iron Bathtub

50

Fiberglass Bathtub and Shower

10-15

Shower Door

25

Toilet

50

Kitchens are in the process of becoming larger and more elaborate, and together with the family room, modern kitchens now form the “great room.”

Great rooms are a place to cook as well as a space where people gather to read, talk, eat, do homework, surf the Internet, and pay bills.

CABINETRY & STORAGE

YEARS

Bath Cabinets

100+

Closet Shelves

100+

Entertainment Centers/Home Office

10

Garage/Laundry Cabinets

100+

Kitchen Cabinets

50

Medicine Cabinets

20+

Modular/Stock Manufacturing Type

50

Walls and ceilings last the full lifespan of the home.

CEILINGS, WALLS & FINISHES

YEARS

Acoustical Ceiling

100+

Ceiling Suspension

100+

Ceramic Tile

100+

Standard Gypsum

100+

Natural stone countertops, which are less expensive than they were just a few years ago, are becoming more popular and one can expect them to last a lifetime. Cultured marble countertops have a shorter life expectancy, however.

COUNTERTOPS

YEARS

Cultured Marble

20

Natural Stone

100+

Laminate Countertops

20 - 30

Tile

100+

Wood

100+

Decks are exposed to a wide range of conditions in different climates, from wind and hail in some areas to relatively consistent, dry weather, in others. Under ideal conditions, they have a life expectancy of about 20 years but they can fail much sooner.

DECKS

YEARS

Deck Planks

25

Wood

10-30

Exterior fiberglass, steel and wood doors will last as long as the house, while vinyl and screen doors have a shorter life expectancy. Closet doors may last a lifetime, but French doors will fail sooner.

DOORS

YEARS

Closet (Interior)

100+

Fiberglass (Exterior)

100+

Fire-Rated Steel (Exterior)

100+

French (Interior)

30-50

Screen (Exterior)

40

Vinyl (Exterior)

20

Wood (Exterior)

100+

Wood (Hollow Core Interior)

20 - 30

Wood (Solid Core Interior)

30 - 100+

Floor and roof trusses and laminated strand lumber are durable household components, and engineered trim may last 30 years.

ENGINEERED LUMBER

YEARS

Engineered Trim

30

Laminated Strand Lumber

100+

Laminated Veneer Lumber

80+

Trusses

100+

FIXTURES & FAUCETS

YEARS

Accessible/ADA Products

100+

Enamel Steel Kitchen Sinks

5-10

Faucets

15-20

Modified Acrylic Kitchen Sinks

50

Saunas/Steam Rooms

15-20

Shower Enclosures/Modules

50

Shower heads

100+

Soapstone Kitchen Sinks

100+

Toilets/Bidets

100+

Whirlpool Tubs

20-50

Natural wood floorings may las as long as the house. Marble, slate, and granite are also expected to last for about 100 years, but require more maintenance. Vinyl floors last up to 50 years, linoleum about 25 years, and carpet between 8 and 10 years (with appropriate maintenance and normal traffic).

FLOORING

YEARS

All Wooden Floors

100+

Bamboo

100+

Brick Pavers

100+

Carpet

8-10

Concrete

50+

Engineered Wood

50+

Exotic Wood

100+

Granite

100+

Laminate

15-25

Linoleum

25

Marble

100+

Other Domestic Wood

100+

Slate

100

Terrazo

75+

Tile

75-100

Vinyl

25

Concrete and poured block footings and foundations will last a lifetime, assuming they were properly built. Termite proofing of foundations will last about 12 years if the chemical barriers put in place during construction are left intact. Waterproofing with bituminous coating lasts 10 years, but if it cracks it is immediately damaged.

FOOTING & FOUNDATIONS

YEARS

Baseboard System

50

Bituminous Coating Waterproofing

10

Cast Iron Waste Pipe (Above Ground)

60+

Cast Iron Waste Pipe (Below ground)

50 - 60

Concrete Block

100+

Concrete Waste Pipe

100

Poured Footings and Foundations

100+

Pumps, Sumps, and Wells

5-12

Termite Proofing

12

Framing and structural systems have extended longevities; poured-concrete systems, timber frame houses and structural insulated panels will all last a lifetime. Wall panels and roof and floor trusses will also last a lifetime. Hardboard, softwood, and plywood last an average of 30 years, while OSB and particleboard are expected to last twice that long.

FRAMING & OTHER STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

YEARS

Poured-Concrete Systems

100+

Structural Insulated Panels

100+

Timber Frame Homes

100+

Garage door openers are expected to last 10 to 15 years, and light inserts will last slightly longer.

GARAGES

YEARS

Garage Doors

20-25

Garage Door Openers

10-15

Light Inserts

20

Home technology systems have diverse life expectancies. While a built-in audio system will last 20 years, security systems and heat/smoke detectors have life expectancies of 5 to 10 years. Wireless home networks and home automation systems are expected to work properly for more than 50 years.

HOME TECHNOLOGY

YEARS

Built-in Audio

20

Home Automation Systems

100+

Security Systems

5-10

Smoke/Heat Detectors

Less Than 10

Wireless Home Networks

50+

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems require regular maintenance in order to work properly, but even well-maintained systems only last 15 to 25 years. Furnaces, on average, last 15-20 years, heat pumps last 16 years, and air conditioning units last 10-15 years. Tankless water heaters last more than 20 years, while an electric or gas water heater has a life expectancy of about 10 years. Thermostats may last 35 years but they are usually replaced before they fail due to technological improvements.

HVAC

YEARS

Air Conditioners

10-15

Air Quality Systems

15

Attic Fans

15 - 25

Boilers

13-21

Burners

10+

Central Air Conditioning Unite

12-15

Dampers

20+

Dehumidifiers

8

Diffusers, Grilles, and Registers

25

Ducting

10

DX, Water, Or Steam

20

Electric

15

Electric Radiant Heater

40

Furnaces

15-20

Heat Exchangers, shell + tube

10-15

Heat Pumps

16

Heat Recovery Ventilators

20

Hot Water or Steam Radiant Heater

40

Induction and Fan-Coil Units

10-15

Molded Insulation

100+

Shell and Tube

20

Thermostats

35

Ventilators

7

Water Heaters

20+

As long as they are not punctured, cut, or burned and are kept dry and away from UV rays, cellulose, fiberglass, and foam insulation materials will last a lifetime. This is true regardless of whether they were installed as loose fill, house wrap, or batts/rolls.

INSULATION & INFILTRATION BARRIERS

YEARS

Batts/Rolls

100+

Cellulose

100+

Fiberglass

100+

Foam

100+

House Wrap

100+

Loose Fill

100+

Ladders are expected to last a lifetime, but life expectancy of lifts is significantly shorter.

JOB SITE EQUIPMENT

YEARS

Ladders

100+

Lifts

8-10

Copper plated wiring, copper clad aluminum, and bare copper wiring are expected to last a lifetime, whereas electrical accessories and lighting controls may need to be replaced after 10 years.

LIGHTING & ELECTRICAL

YEARS

Accessories

10+

Bare Copper

100+

Copper Clad Aluminum

100+

Copper Plated

100+

Lighting Controls

10+

Masonry is one of the most enduring household components. Fireplaces, chimneys, and brick veneers can last the lifetime of a home.

MASONRY & CONCRETE

YEARS

Brick

100+

Sealer Caulking

2-20

Stone

100+

Veneer

100+

Custom millwork will last a lifetime, and all stairs – circular and spiral stairs, prebuilt stairs and attic stairs – are expected to last a lifetime.

MOLDING & MILLWORK

YEARS

Attic Stairs

100+

Custom Millwork

100+

Prebuilt Stairs

100+

Stair Parts

100+

Stairs, Circular & Spiral

100+

Lifetime of any wood product depend on level of moisture intrusion

PANELS

YEARS

Flooring Underlayment

25

Hardboard

30

Particleboard

60

Plywood

60

Softwood

30

Oriented-Strand Board

60

Wall Panels

100+

The life of a roof depends on local weather conditions, building and design, material quality, and adequate maintenance. Slate, copper, and clay/concrete roofs have the longest life expectancy while roofs made of asphalt shingles, fiber cement or wood shakes will fail sooner.

ROOFING

YEARS

Aluminum Coating

3-7

Asphalt Shingles (3 - tab)

20

Asphalt (Architectural)

30

BUR (Built-up Roof)

30

Clay/Concrete

100+

Coal and Tar

30

Copper

100+

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) Rubber

15 - 25

Fiber Cement

25

Metal

40 - 50

Modified Bitumen

20

Simulated Slate

50

Slate

50+

TPO

7 - 20

Wood

30

Outside materials typically last a lifetime. Brick, vinyl, engineered wood, stone (both natural and manufactured), and fiber cement will last as long the house. Exterior wood shutters are expected to last 20 years, depending on weather conditions. Gutters have a life expectancy of more than 50 years if made of copper and for 20 years if made of aluminum. Copper downspouts last 100 years or more, while aluminum ones will last 30 years.

SIDING & ACCESSORIES

YEARS

Aluminum Downspouts

30

Aluminum Gutters

20

Aluminum/Interior Shutters

10+

Brick

100+

Copper Downspouts

100

Copper Gutters

50+

Engineered Wood

100+

Fiber Cement

100+

Galvanized Steel Gutters/Downspouts

20

Manufactured Stone

100+

Soffits/Fascias

50

Stone

100+

Stucco

50 - 100

Trim

25

Vinyl

100+

Wood/Exterior Shutters

20

Wood/Interior Shutters

15+

Most landscaping elements have a life expectancy of 15 to 25 years. Sprinklers and valves last about 20 years, while underground PVC piping has a lifespan of 25 years. Polyvinyl fences are designed to last as long as the house, and asphalt driveways should last between 15 and 20 years. Tennis courts can last a lifetime if they are recoated; most coatings last 12 to 15 years. The concrete shell of a swimming pool is expected to last more than 25 years, but the interior plaster and tile have life expectancies of about 10 to 25 years.

SITE & LANDSCAPING

YEARS

American Red Clay

100+

Asphalt Driveway

15-20

Asphalt with Acrylic Coating or Cushion

12-15

Brick & Concrete Patios

15-25

Clay Paving

100+

Cleaning Equipment(Swimming Pool)

7-10

Coating

5-7

Concrete Shell (Swimming Pool)

25+

Concrete Walks

40- 50

Controllers

15

Decking(Swimming Pool)

15

Fast-Dry Green Tennis Court

100+

Fast-Dry with Subsurface

100+

Gravel Walks

4-6

Interior Finish( Swimming Pool)

10-35

Polyvinyl Fences

100+

Sprinklers

10-14

Underground PVC Piping

60+

Valves

20

Waterline Tile ( Swimming Pool)

10

Aluminum windows are expected to last between 15 and 20 years while wooden windows should last nearly 30 years.

SKYLIGHTS & WINDOWS

YEARS

Aluminum/Aluminum Clad

15-20

Window Glazing

10+

Vinyl Windows

20 - 40

Wood

30+

Note: Life expectancy varies with usage, weather, installation, maintenance and quality of materials. Items listed as lasting 100+ years, especially those that open and close, often fail prematurely due to misuse or overuse. This list should be used only as a general guideline, not as a guarantee or warranty regarding the performance or life expectancy of any product.